Aspen (The Dragon Kings #2)(53)

Oh come on, don’t be like that. It’s not like I asked to be part of this. The council approached me. No one says no to the council unless they want to die a slow and painful death.

You’ll still die a slow and painful death, Sid replied.

Theo sat down next to Sid anyway.

The five dragons circled Aspen and squatted. All of them lowered their heads to the ground as if they were bowing to her. At first, Aspen did not respond at all, she merely stared at them. Then she gripped her head and fell to the ground. Sid jerked, and Pearl wrapped her tail around him.

Aspen wailed. The sound pierced the air and crushed his heart.

Sid tried to move again, but the spikes on Pearl’s tail dug into his belly.





Aspen wanted to die. Her body racked with sobs. She felt nothing but sorrow and pain. She struggled to stand, to make sense of this horrid experience. She managed to get to her knees and look around. Though blurry, there were five dragons surrounding her. Two blue ones, a silver, a purple and green, and a red. Sorrow overtook her again, and she collapsed on the floor. It would be better to just give into the darkness, perhaps then there would be no more pain. Shut up, she told the voice in her head.


There had to be a purpose, a reason for this pain. The dragons surrounding her had something to do with this. She rolled over and got up on all fours and crawled over to the first dragon. The magnificent blue clouded by her tears. She reached her arms up and hugged the dragon’s neck. Aspen felt wings encircle her, and her pain lessened.

The dragon didn’t say anything, and neither did Aspen, and her legs still wouldn’t work. She crawled over to the other blue dragon and repeated the process. Aspen had calmed down enough to walk now. The silver dragon was thrashing. Getting close without getting hurt would be difficult. After waiting for the dragon to calm, she rushed forward and briefly registered the wing before being tossed into the air. She landed on her back, her head cracking on the floor. Aspen sat up, her ears ringing, physical pain finally greater than the sorrow.

The silver dragon was still in agony. With her eyes squeezed shut, she swung her great head from side to side. Every once in a while, her wings shot out. Aspen waited until she saw an opening again and ran toward her. She latched onto her neck and felt her body shudder. Then the dragon calmed, and her body collapsed on the floor. Aspen let go and moved on to the purple dragon and then the red.

After finishing, she sat down in the middle of them again. Her body was no longer heaving, though tears still flowed down her cheeks. For the first time in her life, she felt that she had a purpose, a reason to be there. She felt more at home with the dragons than she’d ever felt among her friends and family.

Multiple voices assaulted her at once We were together six hundred and eighty years.

I miss him so much.

I was supposed to die first.

I thought being bonded meant we’d be together forever. Why are we separated now?

I want to join him; I want to die.

Each voice was unique although she had no idea whom each one belonged to. She sent an I’m so sorry to each of them. They had each lost someone close, their companion, she guessed. She had never felt grief so deep, not even when Mrs. Dufour died. She wondered if this was what it would be like when Sid died, or would she go first? Either way, she knew now that she would be okay, even if he did die. It wouldn’t be pleasant, but she’d survive her grief.

Each dragon thanked her on her way out and asked that Aspen visit in the future. She hoped that meant they thought she’d make it.





Sid was so enraptured by the scene that he did not notice Pearl had let go of him.


I have to go back down, she said, looking concerned.

What’s the matter? Sid asked.

She shows a great capacity for compassion, Pearl explained. She’s never going to pass Winerva’s test. I’ll see you when this is over. Theo, make sure you hang on to Obsidian. He almost flew straight into the middle of the grievers. He would have gone mad before he got there.

Can do. Have fun down there, Theo said.

Runa, I need you to come with me. Pearl sat back on her haunches.

“Why?” Runa asked.

Because Nedra asked for you. I think he wants your help with his test.

Everett, what is Winerva’s test? Sid turned and looked at him.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Winerva will be last. I’ll tell you then.

How did Aspen not go mad when we would have?

She’s human. It’s different for them. But not all humans could handle it. She’s stronger than you think.





Aspen’s head really hurt, but so far she felt like she was doing fairly well. The tiny underground dragon stepped forward.


The underground dragons possess a strength beyond any dragon alive, but we have a disability that prevents us from exercising that strength on a regular basis. Let’s see what you can do.

Everything went dark. Aspen wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do, but she’d gone blind.

“Help,” a voice called, and Aspen’s stomach dropped. That was Runa’s voice. She ran toward the sound. After a few feet she tripped and fell. Crap.

“Help,” Runa called again. “Aspen, hurry.”

Aspen took her time, knowing if she rushed, she’d be flat on her face again. The ground underneath her feet was not flat. She stumbled a little, but did not fall. She was getting closer. Runa continued to yell for help.